Michael Mancuso/The TimesHightstown Borough employees make due working out of what used to be the break room in the Public Works building. The employees moved their operations after recent floods caused them to vacate their regular office space. From left, Peggy Riggio admin asst to clerk, Chad Reed fire inspector, Debra Sopronyi, purchasing agent, Brian Pickering garage mechanic, Janice Mohr-Kminek treasurer & Michele Balint treasury and finance.

HIGHTSTOWN — Two council members see the future location of borough hall right under their noses, at the vacant rug mill property on Bank Street.

“We have been complaining about that rug mill forever. It’s time we took control and actually did something about it,” Woods said. “I think with everybody working together we could accomplish this.”

She and Bibens suggested a redevelopment agency be instituted separate from the council so that it could work with a developer to renovate rug mill property for borough and retail use.

Woods suggested the old factory buildings could also include studio space for artists and a reception hall.

However, other council members were not immediately open to the idea of purchasing the rug mill.

Under Woods and Bibens’ proposal, the borough would create temporary administrative offices for borough workers on the second floor of the flood-damaged borough hall. Next door, a modular building would be created for the police department, which was also affected by the flooding.

Later on, the rug mill buildings would be renovated for permanent use.

“This plan provides for commercial rent or sale of our existing borough hall once the move is made to the renovated portion of the rug mill. That money can be invested back into the project or wherever it’s deemed appropriate,” Woods said. “The remaining portion of the rug mill site creates a future ongoing revenue stream for the borough through commercial rents and possibly residential tax, if we go that far.”

Woods and Bibens shunned earlier proposals to purchase and renovate the Lucas Electric site, where the police have been temporarily housed, to accommodate borough hall operations. That would cost more, Bibens said.

“You have to spend money to make money,” Bibens said, noting the rent potential in borough-leased retail structures. “We will regenerate the tax revenue and with the concept here we get the chance.”

But other council members were not immediately open to the idea of purchasing the rug mill.

“My inclination is let’s look at the least expensive way to provide offices for borough staff,” Councilman Robert Thibault said. “Really, that’s all we need to do. We need to provide some shelter for them so they can do their jobs.” Borough hall employees are currently housed at the public works building on Bank Street.

Councilwoman Gail Doran said the emphasis should be on finding new housing for borough operations as soon as possible, rather than including a more expansive rug mill redevelopment plan.

“I think it’s an interesting presentation but it’s a rug mill redevelopment presentation, not a borough hall solution,” she said. “I don’t’ want to distract from what we have to do with borough hall right now.”

Council President Lawrence Quattrone frowned upon the possibility of teaming with a developer to turn the rug mill into a retail attraction.

“I’m not too sure I’d like to do that. I don’t believe it always works,” he said. “Does the borough want to become a landlord? That’s a whole other discussion because that’s not an easy road to go down.”